Did PAXLOVID also relieve your arthritis and autoimmune symptoms?

Posted by annewoodmayo @annewoodmayo, Jul 15, 2023

Hi, everyone

I have been diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
The diagnoses have changed over time (lupus, not lupus, spondyloarthropathy, akylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Raynaud's, Sjorgren and maybe others that I have forgotten... sorry about the spelling).

When I took Paxlovid for Covid, many of my symptoms disappeared or were significantly reduced.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm thinking that perhaps my autoimmune disease is somehow based on a VIRUS, since paxlovid is an anti-viral and it was like a miracle cure for my symptoms.

I told my rheumatologist about it, but I couldn't get her to focus on the logical connection between the anti-viral (paxlovid) and the reduction in my symptoms. It was very frustrating. I actually cried in my car after the appointment.

I think this could be a game-changing piece of evidence in my medical treatment and diagnosis. And maybe for other autoimmune disease sufferers, too! But I don't know where to turn with this evidence.

What do you think I should do? What doctor should I go to?
My primary care doctor probably won't offer anything; he never intervenes in my rheumatological care.

Please let me know if you had the same experience: an anti-viral medication (paxlovid or another one) reduced your autoimmune/arthritis symptoms.

I searched around online, and it was hard to find and hard to understand information there. In the CDC's PubMed, I found one source that indicates the possibility that immune suppressing medications can reactivate the Epstein Barr virus in some patients. Epstein Barr causes fatigue, among other symptoms, but fatigue is one of my worst symptoms.

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Yes, I was on Paxlovid for Covid and I noticed I was having 0 pain. I have severe scoliosis and arthritis, so I am used to daily pain. As far as I know, I haven't been diagnosed with any autoimmune diseases. By 2-3 day of Paxlovid, I realized I was not having any pain and I started moving around testing things that normally caused pain for me. A couple of days after completed Paxlovid, my normal pain returned. I went online to see if anyone else had experienced this which is where I saw this post. Hopefully, some day they can figure out why and how to utilize it.

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@arthur57

Okay, I hope everyone who has commented on the positive relationship between paxlovid and their arthritis symptoms reads this.

I just spoke to a lady (Julie I believe it was) in the Medical Affairs office at Pfizer about the comments from several here on how it has relieved their arthrtic symptoms, at least for a period of time. She was extremely interested as she had not heard this before but took down my personal information. I mentioned I had read this on a Mayo Clinic forum, topic being related to paxlovid drug. She was definitely going to pass this news along but she also advised me to have anyone who has experienced positive responses to contact them at 800-438-1985 and hit #1 when prompted. This is normally the line where people can report adverse effects from a medicine but the place she wanted people to call and give their positive feedback. They will probably ask more questions about each individuals response etc.

Please do this to all that it applies to, can only help the cause!

Best to all!

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I just reported my results to them and plan to repost this info on social media to help spread the word. Fingers crossed for all of us!

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@jjimboy

I just reported my results to them and plan to repost this info on social media to help spread the word. Fingers crossed for all of us!

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Hi jjmboy, (I'm in bad body mode--this might sound rude. sorry in advance)
social media is a great idea!
May I suggest? Please post very specifically that this is about people who already had a diagnosed autoimmune disease/arthritis BEFORE covid and paxlovid AND they got relief from the paxlovid.

People who GOT body aches/autoimmune/arthritis AFTER covid and/paxlovid are a different category.

I don't know how rude it would be to say that if you don't fit into our category, please don't post here. Don't post about any other topic, either. Acknowledge that there are a lot of strong feelings related to the situation (Long Covid, anti-vaxers, pharmaceutical-haters, etc) but not in this post, This is NOT about Long Covid--they are already researching Long Covid, so we need to keep the focus here.

Can you put some kind of link here in Mayo to your social media?

I don't use any social media...too many teachers have gotten burnt, long story.

Please excuse my abruptness today (and to other folks the last few days for not responding)-- ive had a series of bad body days, very tired

Thank you!

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@annewoodmayo

Hi jjmboy, (I'm in bad body mode--this might sound rude. sorry in advance)
social media is a great idea!
May I suggest? Please post very specifically that this is about people who already had a diagnosed autoimmune disease/arthritis BEFORE covid and paxlovid AND they got relief from the paxlovid.

People who GOT body aches/autoimmune/arthritis AFTER covid and/paxlovid are a different category.

I don't know how rude it would be to say that if you don't fit into our category, please don't post here. Don't post about any other topic, either. Acknowledge that there are a lot of strong feelings related to the situation (Long Covid, anti-vaxers, pharmaceutical-haters, etc) but not in this post, This is NOT about Long Covid--they are already researching Long Covid, so we need to keep the focus here.

Can you put some kind of link here in Mayo to your social media?

I don't use any social media...too many teachers have gotten burnt, long story.

Please excuse my abruptness today (and to other folks the last few days for not responding)-- ive had a series of bad body days, very tired

Thank you!

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No worries dear…you were not rude at all. My social media post does say what you mentioned. I was simply excited and in a hurry on my lunch hour when I posted on here. I do in fact fit into your category. I was diagnosed with an unspecified or mixed (can never remember the difference) autoimmune disease 26 years ago. I have had mild Covid 3 times, and 4 months ago, I took Paxlovid for the first time and noticed complete relief from all of my symptoms which lasted 5-6 days before they all came back. I immediately got online to see if anyone else had the same experience, and I found you guys. I have checked on here frequently and saw the post today about calling Pfizer, so I did! I will see if I can figure out the social media thing for you this evening. Have a good day!

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My chronic pain in my joints went away after taking paxlovid. What causes this wonderful side effect

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@kurtwinterhalter

Yes, I have has the exact same result after taking a course of Paxlovid for my first bout with Covid. At first I was not sure if I was just feeling better from the quick recovery from the acute Covid. However, I am about a month past the the onset of the Covid and the decrease in my chronic joint pain has continued at about a 90% decrease from the level I had experienced for the past 20 years. Also my basic energy level feels 10 to 20% better. (I am 72 and in very good overall health and am not on any prescription meds). I will look forward to how long the nice side effect of Paxlovid persists. (12/3/2023)

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My Paxlovid relief from arthritis lasted approximately 4 months. I was basically pain free from 20 years of pain in my right hip. It's back now at the same level as before the Paxlovid, but the 4 months of relief was wonderful.
I also called and reported this to Pfizer, answered some questions but that was it. No follow up since the call.
My pain is worse when waking up in the morning. My leg almost collapses from the pain. After 20 mins or so the pain dissipates and I am good to go. I found that a heating pad during the night helps tremendously.

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I’m on my last day of Paxlovid, following a covid diagnosis, and was rather amazed to wake up this morning with unswollen hand joints and eyes that weren’t puffy at all.

I have experienced sore hands and a sore arthritic big toe during covid (I haven’t been very sick at all), but it was definitely unusual not to have have any swollen joints this morning.

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I’m on day 5 of Paxlovid after Covid & the inflammatory wrist issues seemed to have disappeared!! I’ve been taking steroids daily for years to keep the inflammation down. It’s like I don’t even need the steroids since starting Paxlovid. Is it possible that a systemic virus has been behind all of my tendon problems? Will this resume after stopping Paxlovid? I only have one more dose. This is an absolute miracle as nothing has helped me more than the last few days on the Paxlovid. I will follow up to inform if symptoms return as the medication leaves my system 🙏🏻 I’ve been trying to figure out what has been causing this for years now. A couple of years ago, they put me on methotrexate and it was HORRIBLE and it didn’t even help me. I do still wonder if a slow chronic tooth infection could be behind this as well. I did notice some relief after 2 implants replaced root canals. I have one more to go.

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I also noticed that my arthritis pain and my knee pain were virtually non existent while taking paxlovid. A few days after finishing the COVID treatment I started having pain again.

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I saw the post on contacting Pfizer and called them. I answered some questions and hopefully they will call me back since I would very much like to talk with them about this.

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